Stave-dressing machine



(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheen 1.

E. 8v B. HGLMES. Stave Dressing Machine. No. 241,138. Patented May i0, 188i.

N, PETERS, Phota-Liihographer, Washington, D. C.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- 13.8: B. HOLMES.

Stava Dressing Machine.

Patented May 10,1881..

N. PETERS. Photu-LHhogr-Ipner. Washington. D. C.

4 Sheets-'Sheet 3.

(NG Model.)

B. & B; HOLMES. Stava Dressing Machine.

m mm s w o y a M d e t n e .T- a l P @ha .E f//Nm/ 4 QW fr@ l.. a 3 M.. 2 l Ol o N M ab Z. Q12 3. Jia im' N. PETERS. PhuwLiihognphar, Washington, D. C.

(N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. & B. HOLMES.

Stava' Dressing Machine.

No. 241,138. Patented |V1ay10,`1 881.`

N. PETERS, PhoiLihogr-phen Washmgton. D. C.

v UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEtcE.

EDTARD HOLMES AND BRITAIN HOLMES, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STAVE-DRESSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,138, dated May 10, 1881,

Application led May 8, V1580.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD HOLMES and BRITAIN HoLMEs,eitizens ofthe United States, residing in the city of Buffalo, count-y of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Dressing Staves, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying' drawings, forming a part of the same.

In said drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal sectional elevation (one end being in section) of a machine embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the rear portion thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view (enlarged) of the front portion of such machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on line a of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front-end elevation; Fig. 6, a rear-end eleva-tion; Fig. '7, a cross-sectional elevation on the line i ot' Figs. 3 and 4.

This invention relates to that class of machines whereby a stave is dressed upon its upper and under surfaces, so as to impart to it thenecessary concavo-convex form transversely that adapts it, when a suitable number are set up and held by hoops in cylindrical shape, to form a barrel-body with smooth circular exte-v rior and interior surfaces.

The invention consists in a peculiar feeding mechanism, whereby the staves are prevented from twisting while they are forced through the cutting mechanism; in a peculiar structure of the supporting-bed, whereby the thick parts ofthe stave may be cut off without canting or turning the stave; in a novel structure of a y work-holding weight, whereby the stave is sustained against the forward-feedin g action of the cutters, and at the same time is supported in position to be properly dressed, which weight is also constructed to operate as a guide directing the shavings, and in various combinations of devices toofullyhereinafter set forth to need further preliminary description.

The slab of wood in its undressed condition, as when riven or sawed from a block of timber, requires several operations to be performed upon it before it is suited for use as one of the staves forming part of a tight barrel. Thus it must be shaped so as to have a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface, it must have its edges jointed or shaped so that the,

(No model.)

adjacent edges of two staves will it together and form a proper joint between them, and it must be bent longitudinally to impart the bow shape at the bilge. 'These preliminary operations are essential before staves are formed that are in proper condition to be assembled in making tight work, as barrels and like vessels for holding liquids are termed. Other an d subsequen t fitti n goperations are performed upon such staves, and usually after they have been set up7 or assembled and trussed, as crozing, howeling, and chamfering their ends to adapt them to receive the heads.

The present invention pertains to a machine for performing the first or dressing operation, and the apparatus herein illustrated as embody- `ing it will now be described.

The cutting or dressing mechanism consists of an under and an upper rotating cutter.

The under cutter is composed of a triangular head, 20, to the sides of which chisel-shaped cutters 2l, having concave cutting-edges, (see Fig. 5,) are adjustably lxed by slots and setscrews, which head is fast upon a transverse shaft, 22, that is journaled in box-frames 23 24, that are secured to brackets 7l 72, that depend from the end or cross frame 53 of the machine, said shaft 22 being provided with a pulley, 27, whereby it may be rotated at an appropriate speed.

The upper cutter is composed of a triangular head, 30, to the sides of which chisel-shaped cutters 3l, having convex cutting-edges, (see Fig. 3,) are adjustahly fixed by slots and setscrews, which head is fast upon a transverse shaft, 32, that is journaled in box-frames 25 26, that are partly supported by vertical shafts 35 36, which rise from the box-frames 23 24,

and this shaft is also provided with a pulley,

37, by which it may be rotated at an appropriate speed. The box-frames 23 24 also support upon a cross-plate, 28, connectingthem,the lower rest-block, 29, which has a concave face transversely suited to receive the finished part ofthe stave, and they also carry downwardly-inclined and forwardly-projecting guide-blocks,`

as 3 4. The box-frames 25 26 support aleverlike work-holding weight, 44, that is p'ivoted by arms at its rear end, and has its forward end overhan gin g the work-supportin g table 45, which weight has a tapered face that provides IOO a bearing-rib, 11, that presses upon the center of the stave only, the downward movementof which weight 44 is limited by adj listing-screws 19, that bear upon the box-frames. Said boxframes also support at their rear ends, upon a cross-plate, 38, connecting them, the upper rest-block, 15, which has acon Vex surface transversely suited to receive the upper surface of the finished part of the stave. The rest-block is adjustable to and from the rest-block 29 by means ot` a carrier, 16, that may slide up and down in guide-slots in the plate 3S, and be secured in any position thereon by holdingscrews 17, and this rest-block 15 is also seated elastically in its said carrier upon rubber cushions 1S, that bear between shoulders upon the guide and arms of the carrierl These boxframes are further provided with depending upwardly inclined and forwardly projectin g guide-blocks 5 6, which bear upon the upper surfaces ot' wedge-like adjusting-blocks 7 8, the lower surfaces ot' which rest upon the guideblocks 3 4. The blocks 7 8 are adjustable longitudinally by means ot' actuating-screws 57 5S, that are tapped through arms rising from the end frame, 53, of the machine, and bear directly upon the rear faces ofthe said adj Listing-blocks. These box-frames 23 24 and the cutter-head 20,

the rest-block 29, and the guide-blocks 3 4 may the cutter-head and its cutters 21. with respect to the work-supporting table45 and staverest block 29 may be accomplished. The re! lation ot' the bearing-rib 11 and ofthe weight 44 to the work-supporting table may be varied. The head 30 and the cutters it carries may be adjusted with respect to the work-supporting table 45 and the stave-rest block 29, and thus the depth of cut it is to make be determined, as well as the thickness ofthe stave. The position of the stave-rest block 15 with respect to the stave-rest block 29 may likewise be suited to the position of the cutter-head 30. By moving the adjusting-blocks 7 8 forward or back by means ot' the screws 57 5S the boxframes 25 26 and the devices they carry may be adjusted bodily in a vertical direction, guided by the shafts 36, thus bringing the relativelyadjusted cutters 31, rest-block 15, and weight 44 into such proper relation to the work-supporting devices as is requisite to produce a stave of predetermined thickness. The rela.- tive positions ot' the cutter-heads 20 30, their cutters, and the work-rest blocks 15 29 with respect to each other may be varied to adapt the machine to dress a stave to any desired thickness; and as all these parts are removable they may be exchanged for others suited to the makin g of a cut oi' different curve, suited to the making of various sizes of barrels.

lThe work-supporting table 45 for the undressed strip or rough staveconsists of' a bed of a length greater than that ofthe staves the machine is adapted to operate upon, which bed is curved so as to present aconvex transverse upper surface, (see Fig. 5,) the central or bearing part of which is ribbed longitudinally, as at 12, so as to more securely hold the stave. This table is supported at one end by the end frame, 53, and at the other by a central crossbar, 55, that unites the side fralnes, 51 52, of the machine together, and terminates at its front end in a tongue, l2, Figs. 3 and 5, that extends so as to stand just without the path of travel ot' the lower rotating cutters, 2l, and thus constructed itsupports the stave along its longitudinal central portion.

The stave-feeding mechanism consists ot' a serrated or toothed dog, 46, that projects forward from a longitudinally-reciprocating carriage, 47, and is wide enough and properly curved to engage the entire end of the stave widthwisc, so that when it is engaged with a stave resting upon the central ribbed portion, 12, ofthe bed 45, and pressed thereon by the central rib, 11, ot' the weight 44, such stave will be securelyheld, and so as not to twist or cant as it is moved forward to and operated upon by the cut-ters. The carriage 47 has a number of lateral arms, 49 56, by which it is guided in longitudinal groove 9, formed in the side frames, 51 52, the forward movement of which is accomplished by means ot' a rack, 4S, carried on its under side, in which a drivingpinion, 43, gears. This pinion is secured to a sleeve, 39, that runs freely upon a shaft, 40, that is slowly but constantly driven by the multiplying-gear wheels 67 68 69 70 from the main shaft 40. This pinion is provided on one side with a ratchet-clutch, 41, that is adapted to be engaged by a clutch-wheel, 42, which is mounted upon the shaft 4() by means of a spline, so as to slide on said shaft while it revolves with it. This clutch-wheel 42 is provided with a hub, 34, that turns freely in a band, 33, to which the forked end of a shifting-lever, 59, is attached. This lever is pivoted to a doublearmed bell-crank, 60, one arm, 61, of which terminates near the side frame, 52, and projectsinto the path oft-he reciprocating carriage 47, while the arm 62 projects through the side frame, 51, and terminates in a hand-lever. The sleeve 39 ofthe pinion 43 also acts as a winding-drum for a cha-in, 63, that runs from this sleeve or drum under a pulley, 64, over a second pulley, 65, and has depending from its end a weight, 66.

The parts all having been adjusted to suit the length of stave to be operated upon, and the thickness and degree of curvature it is to have when finished, an undressed stave is introduced into the machine by heilig laid upon the table 45 with its butt against the dog 46 and its head bearing under the forward end of the weight 44. The lever 62 is then moved to throw the clutch-wheel 42 into engagement with the clutch 41, whereupon the drivin g-pinion 43 and the winding sleeve or drum 39 are set in mo- IOO IOS

IIO

IIS

tion. The pinion 43 thus drives the carriage 47 forward and slowly feeds the stave forward under the weight 44, the pressure of which resists the forward movement of the stave and compels the dog 46 to enter its butt-end, in which it secures a rm hold that sustains the stave from cantin g o-r turning whileitis pressed forward upon the table 45. When the staveis thus pushed forward its end is brought into position to be engaged by the rotating cutters, the drum39 at the same time winding up the chain 63 and raising'the weight 66. As the cutters operate to dress the opposite sides of the stave they shape its end to nt between the rest-blocks 15 29, which, receiving it. act as gi'lides, aiding to hold it in its exact relation to the cutting mechanism to secure a uniformity of cut throughout its length. Willen the carriage has accomplished the extent of its forward f'eed its front end comes into contact with the arm 61 of the bell-crank 60, and so moves the lever 59 as to separate the clutch-wheel 42 from the clutch 41, thus disengaging the driving-pinion 43 from the rotating shaft and setting said pinion free. The force of the weight 66, which has been raised to its highest position, causes the chain 63 to draw rearward and to carry with it the carriage 47 back to a position to receive another stave to be dressed, and as the carriage thus moves rearward it draws the dog 46 out of the stave end, thus allowing the latter to be carried out between the restblocks 15 29.

In order to assist the carriage in taking up its rearward motion when the clutch mechanism is released, it is provided about midway with a lateral spring, 78, which, having cngaged with a stop-pin, S0, in the side frame as the carriage moved forward, acts b y its resiliency to press the carriage rearwardly; and to prevent damage to the carriage, which runs freely backward, itis also provided at its end with a depending spring, 79, that abuts against the rear end frame, 54, and thus acts as a cushion.

As the cutters reduce the stock ofthe stave `in imparting the requisite transversely-curved surfaces to its opposite sides the shavings produced by the cutters 21 are deliected to the iioor by the inclined end ofthe table 45, and those produced by the cutters 3l are directed upward and discharged rearwardly by the curved under surface of the rear part of the weight 44, which is thus adapted to act as a shield, 90.

What is claimed is- 1. The combination, with upper and lower rotating` cutters operating upon the opposite faces of a stave, of a reciprocatin g stave-feeding carriage having' a convex bed or rib, as 12, carrying a single holding-dog, as 46, that engages the stave end widthwise and co-operates with said cutters to sustain the stave during the dressing` operation from lateral movement or twistingwhile feedingit forward, substantiall y as described.

2. The combination, with the cutters and the l stave-feedin g carriage, of a holdin g-dog, as 46,

operating to prevent lateral movement, twist, or cant of the stave, and guide-rests, as 1529, operating to control the finished end of the stave, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with the cutters and feeding-carriage, ofthe work-supporting bed having a narrow longitudinal sea-t and holdingweight having a bearing-rib, substantially as described.

4. The combinatiomwith the cutters and feedin g-carriage, ofthe work-supportin g bed having a narrow longitudinal seat, holdin g-weight having a bearing-rib, and guide-rests, as 15 29, substantially as described.

5. The combinatiomwith thecutters and feedin g-carriage, of the work-supporting bed having a narrow longitudinal seat, and the guiderests, as l5 29, substantially as described.

6. The combination ofthe cutters 2l and the work-supporting table havin ga convex bed or rib, as 12, extended as a projecting-narrow lip, 2, standing close to the edge of the cutters, whereby the common central surface of the stave-slab is rigidly supported close to the cutting-point, while its irregular parts may depend at the opposite sides of said lip, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the concave cutters 2l, of the convex-surfaced bed 45 and means for feeding the stave forward, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with the concave cutters, of the convexsurface bed 45, holdingweight 44, and means for feeding the stave forward, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the cutters 31, of a work-holding weight having its bearing-face reduced to a longitudinal rib, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the convex worksupporting table 45, of the vertically-adjustable cutter-head 20, provided with concave cutters, and the concave-surfaced rest-block 29, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the work-supporting table 45, cutters 21, rest-block 29, and the holder ll, ofthe convex cutters 3l and convexfaced rest-block 15, arranged to be bodily adjustable with respect to said table and holder, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the convex table 45 or rib 12, concave rest-block 29, and cutter-heads 20 30, ofthe independently-adjustable convex rest-block 15, substantially as described.

13. The combination, with the convex table 45 or rib l2 and means for feeding the stave forward, the cutters 2l 31, and concave restblock 29, ofthe elastically-seated convex restblock 15, substantially as described. EDWARD HOLMES.

BRITAIN HOLMES.

Witnesses:

JAMEs SANGSTER, M. D. FIELD.

IOO

IIO

IZO 

